Hi Everyone - I'm new to this site. I looked around at other boards and found that this one seems to be the most active and helpful. I hope someone here can help me. I haven't knitted in nearly 30 years, but have been inspired to pick it back up by my dogs - they are kind of an in-between size and I can never find sweaters that fit them well. Anyway, I started a very basic sweater from the Leisure Arts book Dog Gone Cute. According to them, it's "easy," but I'm stuck. I have gotten through the collar and the beginning of the body, but when I get to the arm holes, I don't understand the instructions at all. The last row I did was:

Leg Openings: 1st row: K7. Bind off next 6 sts. K56(including st on needle after bind off). Bind of next 6 sts. Knit to end of row.

Okay, did that. But now it says:

Note: All Leg Sections are worked at the same time using a separate ball of yarn for each section.
Beg with a purl row, work 1-1/2" in stocking st from bound off sts, ending with RS facing for next row.

Huh? I don't really understand this. Do I need to do the three sections separately? What about my needles? How do I get over the bound off stitches? I hope I'm explaining my confusion in a non-confusing way!

This won't help you with this particular problem, but someone else will chime in shortly and sort that out. Meanwhile, I noticed on Ravelry that there is errata listed for this pattern (at least I think it's the one you're working on): http://www.patonsyarns.com/erratum.php

Not sure what size you're making but thought I'd post this while I'm thinking about it.

You can do the 3 sections separately, but you can also work all across the split row, just using a separate yarn end for each section. That will make sure you have the same measurement in each part. So from where you are now, turn and purl to where you bound off, drop that yarn, pick up a new end and purl the back sts to the other leg opening, drop the yarn and pick up a new end (can be the other end of one of the balls you're working with), and purl the last section. Turn and do the same on the knit row - drop the working yarn and pick up the yarn that's attached to the next set of stitches and knit them with it, drop the yarn, pick up the other one and finish the row.

When you get the 1½" knit, end with a WS row and ready to work a knit row and this time you'll cast on across the bound off stitches to join all the stitches back into one piece again.

This is a recurring theme and why most of us are here! We like to learn from the best. Welcome to Knitting Help!

Thank you GrumpyGramma. I spent about a week trying to find someone I know who could help me and the closest I could come was a co-worker's mother has a friend who might be able to help, but after 5 days of waiting, I gave up and found this board and got my answer in less than a half hour. Awesome! I am now beyond the armholes and working on the body. I'm sure my questions aren't over yet and I'm so glad you all are here and so helpful.

Thanks salmonmac. Whether it turns our right or not, I will definitely post a pic and hope I don't embarrass myself. One of my little cuties will be modeling it, though, so that should help! You know, I forgot how addictive knitting can be. Those five days when I was in limbo, I was actually anxious about getting back to it. It's very relaxing.

Thank you GrumpyGramma. I spent about a week trying to find someone I know who could help me and the closest I could come was a co-worker's mother has a friend who might be able to help, but after 5 days of waiting, I gave up and found this board and got my answer in less than a half hour. Awesome! I am now beyond the armholes and working on the body. I'm sure my questions aren't over yet and I'm so glad you all are here and so helpful.

You've learned more than you realize. When you get to making a sweater, you'll already know how to work the two front sides at the same time, something many patterns call for. If your pattern doesn't, you'll be able to do it anyway. You've already learned some of the most important things in knitting. When I first posted here I was shocked at how quickly I got a response.

__________________~ GG
I should never overestimate my basic arithmetic skills.

Quote:

Cheating is an option. . . . Cheaters never win and winners never cheat, but smart knitters who want to retain an iota of sanity do, cheerfully. ~~Kory Stamper

First of all, when it says to bind off stitches at the beginning of the next two rows, do I bind off at the end of the row as well? Or bind off at the beginning, then knit to the end of the row and then turn and bind off at the beginning of the purl row?